Fig. 10. Calvarial organ culture demonstrates stimulatory effect of VEGF on bone formation. Calvarial explants were cultured without or with VEGF164 or with Flt-fc. The thickness of the parietal bone was measured at three different points (P1, P2 and P3) determined by analysis of images taken of the whole calvaria prior to processing the sample (A). The thickness was measured as a distance between inner and outer surfaces of the bone based upon alkaline phosphatase staining of the osteoblasts (see high magnification insets) (B). VEGF164 treatment led to a significant increase in calvarial bone thickness (average thicknesses determined at points P1, P2 and P3) when compared with the control, while treatment with Flt-fc prevented all growth during the culture period (C).
